Air New Zealand Delays New Product Launch

It had been thought that Air New Zealand’s new B777-300ER, the first aircraft to feature the carrier’s more spacious premium economy and innovative Sky-couch seating, would debut in December.

The launch called for the new products to feature on the transpacific route linking Auckland with Los Angeles. Services would be extended to London Heathrow from April 1 next year.

But current plans now see the first B777-300ER entering service a month later and then only on an ad hoc basis covering a limited number of flights services linking Auckland with not just Los Angeles but Melbourne and Brisbane too.

As a result it means that those passengers who have booked to travel from Auckland-Los Angeles or vice versa to sample the new products during the busy festive season will be surprised and disappointed to find they are unavailable. In place of what they thought would be a B777-300ER they will find themselves on board a B747-400 with the older seating. No reason has been forthcoming from ANZ as to the reason for these delays.

However what appears certain is that passengers travelling with ANZ from Auckland to London via Los Angeles will get the new products from April 1.